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With the start of "T" comes a great release of tension and stress for lots of guys. I know
for me it was the day I felt I finally gained control over my body. It was the reward I received for years
of tolerance while dealing with an incorrect gender label without chopping someones head off and it was the best reward I
could have possibly received.
In order for HRT to be successful for transmen it must be
administered on a regular basis at the dosage prescribed by the doctor. The frequency and dosage determined by the doctor
will depend on the delivery method chosen and any increased health risks that may be involved.
HRT for transmen can be administered in in several
ways. The most common method is intramuscular (IM) injection with a needle and syringe. Other commonly used delivery
methods for T are trans-dermal application through gels, creams, or patches applied to the skin. The type of Testosterone
you use can depend on many factors including personal preference, cost, health risk/benefits and the options available in
your country.
****More is not always better!****
Lots of us feel an urgent desire to significantly
increase our T doses in the early stage of HRT with the misguided belief that it will increase the amount of changes we experience
in a shorter amount of time. I want to make sure it is understood that this is not effective way of achieving results quickly, in
fact it can actually slow the progress of changes.
The body can only use and store so much testosterone and then it
begins to convert what left into estrogen. This is the body's way of trying to keep the levels balanced
and it will ensure that such attempts will end up backfiring
Delivery Methods
Intramuscular Injection
IM injected forms of Testosterone are one of the most commonly used amongst transmen. Different forms of injected T can
require different dosages and frequency of administration.
Testosterone Enanthate:
Testosterone Enanthate is one of
the most
common forms of injected T prescribed for
transmen in the United States. It is slow acting and usually takes between 8 and 10 days to be released and
used by the body. Testosterone Enanthate is usually injected every 7 to 21 days.
Testosterone Enanthate can be supplied by
a compounding pharmacy where it could be suspended in either sesame or cotton seed oil.
Testosterone Cypionate is the other commonly used forms of injected T
prescribed for transmen in the United States. It is very similar to Testosterone Enanthate and is released and absorbed by
the body in the same time frame (8 to 10 days). Like Testosterone Enanthate it is usually injected every 7 to 21 days.
It can be supplied by compounding pharmacies in a generic form and will
come suspended in either sesame or cotton seed oil.
Sustanon 100 or 250:
Sustanon is a form of injected T that is prescribed
for transmen outsite of the United States. Sustanon is the brand name of two formulas of injected Testosterone that contain
a blend of esters. Sustanon 100 contains three Testosterone esters: Testosterone Phenylpropionate, Testosterone Propionate, and Testosterone
Isocaproate.
Sustanon 250 contains four testosterone esters:
Testosterone Propionate, Testosterone Phenylpropionate , Testosterone Isocaproate, and Testosterone Decanoate.
Both of these forms of injected Testosterone contain both slow and fast
acting esters and are usually injected between every 7 and 30 days.
Trans-dermal Testosterone
Trans-dermal is a type of Testosterone that is delivery through the skin via the use of a
patch, gel, or cream. It is quickly becoming a popular method Of T delivery for transmen who wish to avoid the injected form
or who have had issues with injected forms of T. Trans-dermal forms also help alleviate the ups and downs in T levels that
often accompany the injected forms of T. Trans-dermal forms of T are administered are usually administered once or twice
daily depending on the form of trans-dermal delivery chosen.
Testosterone patches:
There are two types of Testosterone
patches available in the United States at this time. Testoderm and Androderm. Both Androderm and Testoderm (non
scrotal version) are fast acting once they have entered the skin's top layer.
Androderm:
Androderm patches come in two doses:
2.5 mg/patch and 5.0 mg/patch. The actual amount of testosterone in the 2.5 mg patch is 12.2 mg, and the actual amount in
the 5.0 mg patch is 24.3 mg. The reason for this is because much of the testosterone in the patch will not end up
being absorbed into the bloodstream.
Because there is a higher dose of T in the patches it makes it possible
to absorb more or less then the goal of 2.5 mg or 5 mg. If a trans-dermal patch is prescribed for you a Doctor will
monitor your levels and masculinization progress and decide if this is the right delivery method for you.
Androderm patches are usually applied on the
back, abdomen, thighs, or upper arms. The active part of the patch will be covered and the person
won't have to worry about other people coming into direct contact with the patch. Dosages usually vary between
2.5 mg and 10 mg daily and this is achieved by applying a single patch or multiple patches.
Testoderm TTS:
There are two versions of Testoderm patches.
One that is made for scrotal application and another that is made for application on other areas of the body.
Testoderm TTS refers to the non
scrotal version of the patch. Testoderm TTS is the version of testoderm that should be used by transmen.
Testoderm TTS patches come in two doses.
4.0 mg patches and 6.0 mg patches. It works much like Androderm in the way that the actual amount of testosterone
in these patches is higher than the listed dose. The reason is the same. Not all of the T in the patch will end up being
absorbed.
Testoderm patches are usually applied
on the back, abdomen, thighs, or upper arms. The active part of the patch will be covered and you
won't have to worry about other people coming into direct contact with the patch and sucking the T out of ya. Dosage usually
varies between 4 mg and 10 mg daily and this is achieved by applying a single patch or multiple patches.
Testosterone gels and creams
Testosterone creams and gels are applied directly to
the skin. There are no name brand Testosterone creams available in the United States at this time but there
are two versions of testosterone gel available that are sold under the names of Androgel and Testim.
Testim:
Testim, is a clear alcohol based gel
that contains 1% non esterified testosterone. It is fast acting once it has been absorbed into the skin and must
be applied once or twice daily to maintain steady T levels.
Testim should be applied to dry clean
skin. The best application site is the shoulders and upper arms. It should not be applied to the genitals or to
the abdomen. The application sites should be allowed to dry for a few minutes before covering with clothes.
Androgel:
Androgel, like Testim, is a clear alcohol
based gel that contains 1% non esterified testosterone. Androgel is fast acting once it has been absorbed into the
skin and has to be applied once or twice daily to maintain the targeted range of T levels.
Androgel should be applied to clean,
dry skin and should never be applied to the genitals. Application sites should be allowed to dry before covering with
clothes.
Compounding pharmacies can supply gels and creams that work in the same way that Testim and Androgel do at a much more
affordable price seeing as there is not yet a generic form of the drugs available.
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